U.S. patent application number 11/203705 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-15 for horizontal hamstring stretcher.
Invention is credited to Christopher R. DeNisco.
Application Number | 20070037676 11/203705 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37743234 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070037676 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeNisco; Christopher R. |
February 15, 2007 |
Horizontal hamstring stretcher
Abstract
An exercise machine includes: a bench for a user to lie upon; an
actuator arm comprising a first end connected to the bench and a
second end comprising a foot attachment for attaching to a human
foot; the actuator arm comprising an actuator for moving the
actuator arm such that a user's leg is moved into a stretching
position; and a user control for causing the actuator to
actuate.
Inventors: |
DeNisco; Christopher R.;
(Key Biscayne, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL J. BUCHENHORNER
8540 S.W. 83 STREET
MIAMI
FL
33143
US
|
Family ID: |
37743234 |
Appl. No.: |
11/203705 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/112 ;
482/113; 482/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 482/907 20130101;
A63B 21/4011 20151001; A63B 2225/093 20130101; A63B 21/0087
20130101; A63B 21/4029 20151001; A61H 1/0244 20130101; A61H
2203/0456 20130101; A63B 23/0482 20130101; A63B 2023/006 20130101;
A63B 2220/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/112 ;
482/113; 482/142 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/008 20060101
A63B021/008; A63B 26/00 20060101 A63B026/00 |
Claims
1. An exercise machine comprising: a bench for a user to lie upon;
an actuator arm comprising a first end connected to the bench and a
second end comprising a foot attachment for attaching to a user's
foot; the actuator arm comprising an actuator for moving the
actuator arm such that a user's leg is moved into a stretching
position; and a user control for causing the actuator to
actuate.
2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the actuator arm
comprises a first member further comprising a connection to the
bench and a second member comprising the foot attachment and
wherein the first and second members are connected to each other by
a joint allowing freedom of movement such that the first and second
members form a variable angle with respect to each other.
3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the second member
comprises an actuator piston.
4. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the joint comprises a
manually adjustable gear for altering the variable angle.
5. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the foot attachment
comprises a unshaped foot harness.
6. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the first member is
substantially perpendicular to the bench and comprises a manual
height adjustor to vary the height of the first member.
7. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a motor for
the actuator.
8. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the second member
comprises a pneumatic piston arm.
9. The exercise machine of claim 2, further comprising a manually
adjustable bench pad for increasing and decreasing the user's
distance to the actuator.
10. The exercise machine of claim 9, further comprising a mechanism
to vary the length of the second member.
11. The exercise machine of claim 2, further comprising a remote
control for the actuator arm.
12. The exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the remote control
comprises an electronic gauge for measuring progression of the
angle between the first and second members.
13. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a strap to
attach a leg of the user to the bench and to keep the user's leg
flat on the bench.
14. The exercise machine of claim 13, wherein the strap comprises a
hook and loop fastener.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention disclosed broadly relates to the field of
exercise machines and more particularly to an exercise machine for
assisting a user to stretch his or her hamstring.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are many exercise machines in the market today.
However, there are no known machines that assist a user to stretch
his or her hamstring easily and with low risk of injury. Therefore
there is a need for such a machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Briefly, according to an embodiment of the invention, an
exercise machine includes: a bench for a user to lie upon and an
actuator arm comprising a first end connected to the bench and a
second end comprising a foot attachment for attaching to a human
foot. The actuator arm also includes an actuator piston for moving
the actuator arm such that a user's leg is moved into a stretched
position; and a user control for causing the actuator to stretch
the user's leg.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows an exercise machine for assisting a user to
stretch his or her hamstring.
[0005] FIG. 2 shows A U-shaped foot harness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exercise machine 10
for assisting a user to stretch his or her hamstring according an
embodiment of the invention. The exercise machine 10 includes a
bench 12 for a user to lie upon and an actuator arm 14 to move the
leg of its user into a stretched position. In this embodiment, the
arm 14 is a two-part assembly including a first end 16 connected to
the bench 12 and a second end comprising a foot attachment for
attaching to a human foot. The actuator arm also includes an
actuator for moving the actuator arm 14 such that a user's leg is
moved into a stretching position; and a user control 20 for causing
the actuator to move the user's leg.
[0007] The actuator arm 14 comprises a first member 22 with a
connection to the bench 12 and a second member 24 comprising the
foot attachment 18 and wherein the first and second members are
connected to each other by a joint 26 allowing freedom of movement
such that the members form a variable angle with respect to each
other. In this embodiment, the second member 24 comprises the
actuator piston and the joint comprises a manually adjustable gear
for altering the variable angle.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 2, the foot attachment comprises a
u-shaped foot harness. The first member 22 is substantially
perpendicular to the bench and comprises a manual height adjustor
to vary the height of the first member. The exercise machine 10
also includes a motor for the actuator. The exercise machine
further comprises a manually adjustable bench pad for increasing
and decreasing the angle of the leg to the second member of the
arm. The bench 12 also includes a manually adjustable bench pad 30
that is used to increase or decrease the user's distance to the
actuator arm 14. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprises
a remote control 20 for the actuator arm. The remote control
comprises an electronic gauge for measuring progression of the
angle between the first and second arm members. The exercise
machine 10 also includes a strap 34 to attach the leg of the user
not being stretched to the bench and to keep the user's body flat
on the bench. The strap comprises a hook and loop fastener (e.g.,
VELCRO.RTM.).
[0009] Therefore, while there has been described what is presently
considered to be the preferred embodiment, it will understood by
those skilled in the art that other modifications can be made
within the spirit of the invention.
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